HAMILTON took a massive step towards survival with a deserved victory over Queens, who with time running out are staring down the relegation double-barrel.
The first half was a distinctly dour affair by the end of which the ball had been blootered black and blue by two teams showing they are where they are in the standings for very good reason.
Two long-range strikes from Danny Redmond came close to raising the spectacle to even mediocre levels. As the second period wore on Gus MacPherson’s team reverted to type by sitting in, parking the bus, pulling down the shutters and looking to get back to Dumfries with a dourly gained point in tow.
By now well on top Accies pressed and prodded in a bid to pick a route to goal, yet for all their nice passing the all important breakthrough came from a corner.
Queens failed to deal with either the first or second headers allowing the recently introduced Greig Spence to steal in at the back post and power the ball past Lee Robinson.
To seal the win firstly the impressive Redmond, then Andy Ryan smashed home strikes from distance to put a fairer complexion on the scoreline.
Queens look doomed for Second Division football next season and this may be confirmed when the Honest Man of Ayr United visit Palmerston next Saturday.